By David Woods

16th Jul, 2020 | 4:01pm

Casilla returns as Bielsa makes key change – Leeds starting XI & bench v Barnsley

Marcelo Bielsa has named his Leeds United starting XI for the massive game at Elland Road against rock-bottom Barnsley.

He’s gone with an unchanged line-up bar bringing in Gaetano Berardi for the injured Kalvin Phillips. Phillips will miss the rest of the season.

A win would put the Whites just one point away from the Premier League with two games left in the season.

There’s no place in the starting XI for Kiko Casilla with Illan Meslier holding onto the gloves as expected.

However, Casilla does make the bench, which is a bit of a surprise after just returning from a ban for racist abuse. It hints that he has a future at the club beyond the end of this season.

The team news was announced on the official Leeds Twitter account ahead of the 5pm kick-off.

Leeds should win the game today. The bookies have got them as short as 2/7 to get the three points they desperately need. Barnsley are 9/1 to spring the unwanted surprise.

It’s all going to come down to nerves, though. We think Leeds have enough quality to cover the loss of Phillips, with talented loanee Ben White moving into the defensive midfield position.

Without Phillips this season, Leeds have won four and lost two.

Nerves could play a factor. The Leeds players are so close and that has to be playing on their minds. And it’s still tight at the top – a defeat could see them in third place in the table by the time they kick-off against Derby on Sunday, albeit with their fate still in their own hands.

Saying that, we’ve got full confidence in them and we’re fully expecting to be five points clear at the top after tonight’s game.

In other Leeds United news, ‘Staggered’ – Ally McCoist makes big Leeds prediction ahead of clash v Barnsley